Premier League Tennis

India’s tennis star Sumit Nagal has emerged as one of the prominent athletes in the Tennis Premier League Season 6. Nagal represented Gujarat Panthers in both the Men’s Singles and Doubles Categories. The Gujarat Panthers reached the semifinals but succumbed to Yash Mumbai Eagles on Sunday despite Nagal’s tremendous efforts in the men’s singles. He maintained his winning streak by overcoming Karan Singh from Mumbai Eagles in the singles, but the team stumbled in the women’s singles and doubles events.

Nagal expressed his enjoyment of the format and the camaraderie built during the league. “It’s a wonderful atmosphere. Everyone is genuinely supportive. I have really enjoyed being a part of Gujarat Panthers in these two seasons.”

On matchday one of the league, Gujarat Panthers faced off against Rajasthan Rangers, where Nagal competed against Indian tennis veteran Rohan Bopanna in the Men’s Doubles Category and unfortunately lost the match. Looking back on the encounter, Nagal humorously remarked, “He really gave me a tough time on the first day.”

“Playing against someone like Bopanna, who has won a Grand Slam, isn’t easy. However, at the end of the day, it’s enjoyable to compete against such seasoned players,” added Nagal, who is set to make his fifth Grand Slam appearance at the Australian Open next month.

The Tennis Premier League has been expanding each season regarding scale, competition, and quality of tennis showcased. While discussing his time in the TPL, Nagal concurred, stating, “It’s been fantastic. Just looking at the caliber of players this year, you can already see a significant improvement from previous years.”

The 27-year-old Nagal currently holds the 98th spot in ATP rankings and achieved a career-high ranking of 68 in July this year. He is presently the highest-ranked Indian player in singles and aspires to climb higher in 2025, declaring, “My ambition is to break into the top 50 ATP rankings next year, and I will strive to achieve that.”